Away At Fulham

Discussion in 'The Golden Years' started by wfc4ever, Jan 24, 2022.

  1. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    57,969
    Likes Received:
    6,916
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Harpenden
  2. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2012
    Messages:
    18,639
    Likes Received:
    8,094
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Berkshire.
    Yes. Brilliant day out
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  3. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Joined:
    May 14, 2017
    Messages:
    8,896
    Likes Received:
    8,298
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Of course we were there but didn’t venture onto the pitch. Wonderful day.
    A time when we felt a great affinity with the team. Unlike now.
     
    Otter and wfc4ever like this.
  4. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    Messages:
    39,375
    Likes Received:
    3,281
    Trophy Points:
    113
    wfc4ever likes this.
  5. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2006
    Messages:
    69,470
    Likes Received:
    26,010
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Midlands
    I'm on the phone to the Met Police tip line now...
     
  6. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2014
    Messages:
    34,858
    Likes Received:
    20,553
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    over here
    I was on the pitch. I was playing centre half.
     
  7. EnjoytheGame

    EnjoytheGame Reservist

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,986
    Likes Received:
    3,834
    Trophy Points:
    113
    This was a great week and a great day. I was working at the Watford Observer and we'd been working on a souvenir 'magazine' to tell the story of the season. We'd beaten Bournemouth on the Tuesday night to keep the title hopes alive and knew it would all come down to the final game at Fulham. We had two versions of the front cover ready to go. One was called Champions 98. The alternative was the sub-optimal 'Going Up'. On the Thursday before the Fulham game Oli Phillips's phone rang when he was away from his desk and I picked up. It was GT. I told him Oli wasn't there and that I'd get him to call back.

    GT had done all the interviews with Oli about how the season had panned out so he knew about the magazine and he asked how it was going.

    'It's almost finished apart from the finishing touches and the front cover.'

    'What are you calling it?'

    'Well,' I said, 'Plan A is Champions 98. Plan B is Going Up.'

    'Don't worry,' he said. 'I'll make sure you don't need to resort to Plan B.'

    I also remember GT disliked the silver and blue striped away shirt we wore at Fulham that day and would have preferred the team to win promotion in the home colours but, as I remember it, there was some kind of clause in the contract with Le Coq Sportif stipulating how many times the team had to wear it during the season and they were still short of that and so had to wear it else there could be some sort of financial implication.
     
  8. StuBoy

    StuBoy Forum Cad and Bounder

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2006
    Messages:
    11,308
    Likes Received:
    1,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Camberley
    wfc4ever likes this.
  9. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2014
    Messages:
    16,468
    Likes Received:
    5,233
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Watford
    That can't be right because as I remember it the silver and blue kit was the next season's away shirt and we got a preview.
     
  10. StuBoy

    StuBoy Forum Cad and Bounder

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2006
    Messages:
    11,308
    Likes Received:
    1,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Camberley
    Wasn't the away kit in 97/98 the black and red stripes?
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  11. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    57,969
    Likes Received:
    6,916
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Harpenden
    Yes it was .

    As worn at Luton .
     
  12. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2014
    Messages:
    11,543
    Likes Received:
    8,721
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Under the stars
    That season was really fun. It looked to be us or Bristol City all the way really. Real grudge match when we met each other - two really good sides who went for it. Also, who cannot forget the 4-0 thumping win at the Dog Kennel. On personal view, the Derby win was better, but getting promoted will always be special, especially as Champions. We really should of won the Championship that year we went up with Muff and Norwich too.
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  13. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Messages:
    9,650
    Likes Received:
    7,487
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    fhuque off luton
    I went but didn't get on the pitch. But I made up for it at home to sheff wed a few years later.
     
  14. EnjoytheGame

    EnjoytheGame Reservist

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,986
    Likes Received:
    3,834
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Ah yeah, that’ll be it, thanks. The old brain box isn’t what it used to be. Whether or not it was a contractual thing they were certainly heavily pressured to preview the new away kit for the coming season in the title-winning game.

    Either way, GT wasn’t at all happy because he wanted us to win the title in our home colours, especially as there was no need for us to change versus Fulham.
     
  15. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    57,969
    Likes Received:
    6,916
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Harpenden
    And I don't think we got to even lift the trophy on the pitch.

    Typically Watford luck that!

    Least we had that chance at Wembley a year later.
     
  16. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2014
    Messages:
    34,858
    Likes Received:
    20,553
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    over here
    Bristol C blew it on the last day. Losing 2-0 away at Preston I think, otherwise they'd have won the title.
    Very tough match to win at Fulham as they had everything to play for and the defeat stopped "Kevin Keegan & Peter Beardsley's Fulham" qualifying for the playoffs.
     
    SkylaRose likes this.
  17. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    57,969
    Likes Received:
    6,916
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Harpenden
    I think they sneaked through but actually sacked Ray Wilkins the week after before the play-off game.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/89063.stm

    I mean even the Pozzos didn't do that to Zola in 2013!
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2022
  18. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2014
    Messages:
    34,858
    Likes Received:
    20,553
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    over here
    Sorry, you're right, they only got in via GD and if either of the 2 teams below tham had earned one more point they would have missed out. I remember it was a huge game for them...
     
  19. StuBoy

    StuBoy Forum Cad and Bounder

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2006
    Messages:
    11,308
    Likes Received:
    1,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Camberley
    This is why after the game, being in the home stand, a couple of us could show our true colours and celebrate a little. If they hadn't got into the playoffs, I think we might have tried our best to keep it under wraps where our loyalties lie. That is hard though when you see a few thousand Watford fans having a good time on the pitch!
     
  20. iamofwfc

    iamofwfc Squad Player

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2008
    Messages:
    7,238
    Likes Received:
    129
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Yes was there and my favourite game of all time, was on the pitch, favourite ever season, tried to convince myself that promotion was all that mattered and not winning the title, deep down I wanted that trophy, the seasons battle with bristol city was what watching football is all about and following a team like watford. Won a big bet on us winning the title as well what was the icing on the cake, the sun was out and it was shining on the great man that day
     
    CYHSYF, SkylaRose, ST1968 and 5 others like this.
  21. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2015
    Messages:
    7,811
    Likes Received:
    7,971
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I arrived home very drunk with a piece of Craven Cottage pitch turf in my pocket, which I planted in my own lawn the next day.
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  22. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2010
    Messages:
    23,314
    Likes Received:
    4,925
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    R'yleh
    Did you dig it up with your hands? or take a trowel with you?
     
  23. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2014
    Messages:
    34,858
    Likes Received:
    20,553
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    over here
    Is it carefully sectioned off and labelled ? Could add to the value of the house.
     
  24. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2015
    Messages:
    7,811
    Likes Received:
    7,971
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I assume it was a divet kicked up by the players but my memory of the day is a little hazy so I may well have had a small spade with me
     
  25. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2015
    Messages:
    7,811
    Likes Received:
    7,971
    Trophy Points:
    113
    We moved not long after so somebody else had the benefit of enjoying this rare item of watford fc memorabilia
     
  26. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2014
    Messages:
    34,858
    Likes Received:
    20,553
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    over here
    And I bet they mowed it just like any other strip of lawn. A sad end.
     
    Lloyd likes this.
  27. ST1968

    ST1968 First Year Pro

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2013
    Messages:
    515
    Likes Received:
    311
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Are you my brother?

    Clearly not. Brother planted his at our Mum's house where he was still living at the time and where the hallowed turf still lives to this day.
     
    Lloyd likes this.
  28. ST1968

    ST1968 First Year Pro

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2013
    Messages:
    515
    Likes Received:
    311
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Great day out. Always debate with my best mate whether this or Bolton was the no.1

    Anyone else at the Eight Bells pub beforehand having come out of Putney Bridge station?

    Picture in your mind massed ranks of 'Orns stood on and around the tables outside singing as only football fans can. Just then a coach load of Japanese tourist came round the corner, stopped, cameras quickly out, click, click, click, click, click and away they went again. Very funny.

    Then we were followed up the park to Craven Cottage by the police wagons.

    When football was fun....
     
    iamofwfc and wfc4ever like this.
  29. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2006
    Messages:
    15,282
    Likes Received:
    5,798
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Space City, Houston TX.
    Absolutely criminal that Hooter hasn’t liked this post.
     
    UEA_Hornet and iamofwfc like this.
  30. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    57,969
    Likes Received:
    6,916
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Harpenden
    24 years today!

    One of the best days .
     
    StuBoy likes this.
  31. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Joined:
    May 14, 2017
    Messages:
    8,896
    Likes Received:
    8,298
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    We paid for it three seasons later, however. One of the worst (and coldest) days.
     
  32. LondonOrn

    LondonOrn Squad Player

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2015
    Messages:
    5,351
    Likes Received:
    1,655
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I thought Fulham was unique among English football clubs in being on the bank of a river, but then I discovered recently that Forest (which I haven't been to) are by the Trent. Anyone know of any other clubs in that category?
     
  33. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior

    Staff Member
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2010
    Messages:
    23,314
    Likes Received:
    4,925
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    R'yleh
    they probably have an open sewer or two at kennilworth road?
     
    Knight GT likes this.
  34. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Joined:
    May 14, 2017
    Messages:
    8,896
    Likes Received:
    8,298
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    There are several. Sunderland, Middlesbrough (The Riverside!), Swansea and Leicester for instance. I think Sheffield Wed and Blackburn too. I expect there are more, especially if you include ones that are close to if not right on a river, like Norwich.
     
  35. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Joined:
    May 14, 2017
    Messages:
    8,896
    Likes Received:
    8,298
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Perhaps more unusual are grounds right by the sea like Inverness and Grimsby. But the closest of all is Arbroath.
    upload_2022-5-2_19-38-51.jpeg
     
    wfc4ever likes this.

Share This Page